Relegation-threatened Hannover will be hoping to record the first win of 2015 when they host in-form Hertha Berlin, who seem to have escaped the danger zone thanks to an impressive run of results.

The 96ers were very much in contention for Europa League positions after the first part of the season, having taken 24 points from first 17 matches.

However, the team have been unrecognisable since the winter break and they have yet to record the first win in the new year.

Having picked up mere four points from last ten Bundesliga matches, Hannover slipped into the danger zone and currently sit just three points above the bottom three.

As a result, they will be desperate to try and defeat Hertha on Friday evening, with home win paying 2.15 (23/20) at Ladbrokes.

Tayfun Korkut’s men can take some heart from their performance against Eintracht, having come from two goals down to earn a draw last weekend.

There have been more good news for the Hannover coach as striker Joselu resumed training after recovering from illness, and he is expected to return to the starting line-up.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Zieler – Sakai, Marcelo, Felipe, Schulz – Sane, Kiyotake – Briand, Stindl, Ya Konan – Joselu.

Hertha, too, had a pretty disappointing start to 2015, losing four of first five league matches to slip into the relegation zone.

However, the team from Berlin then showed incredible improvement and the latest excellent run of results appears to have helped them secure Bundesliga survival.

Hertha took amazing 11 points from last 5 fixtures to climb to 11th in the overall standings and with seven games to go they sit seven points clear of the bottom three.

Pal Dardai’s side now have a chance to further improve their league position by piling more misery on out-of-sorts Hannover and they are 3.80 (14/5) to make it three victories on the bounce.

The coach is sweating over the fitness of Roy Beerens (back) and Marvin Plattenhardt (groin), but there are no other worries at the moment.

Hertha’s 3-3-7 away record is not exactly impressive, but it is important to note that they have taken seven points from last four matches on the road.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Kraft – Pekarik, Langkamp, Brooks, Plattenhardt – Lustenberger, Skjelbred – Beerens, Stocker, Haraguchi – Kalou.